Walking the Walk in Virginia

It hasn't gotten much media attention yet, but there's something happening in the Old Dominion. As one of only two states with a gubernatorial election this fall, it has become a focal point for both Republicans and Democrats looking for a bellwether going into next year's midterm congressional elections. But if State Senator Russ Potts has his way, this fall's campaign could prove to be a bellwether of a much different sort.

Potts, a four-term state senator and currently chairman of the Senate's Education and Health Committee, is a moderate Republican who supports womens' right to choose and has long decried what he calls the GOP's "drift to the right." In various newspaper articles he has been described as "irascible," a "prickly populist," "candid," "colorful and cantakerous" ... and he's running for governor.

Dissatisfied with the presumed GOP frontrunner, Jerry Kilgore, and Democrat Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, Potts announced on February 25 that he would enter the campaign as an "Independent Republican." His announcement speech, available here, is a wonderful expression of a truly centrist agenda that transcends party lines in the name of good government and common sense policy. A few excerpts:

"I'm an American first, a Virginian second, and a Republican third. Let there be no question about where my priorities lie. America and Virginia come first."

"We face a political process that emphasizes electioneering and not governing, and the constant concern about political ramifications instead of what is the right decision ... That is wrong. Dead wrong. It is time to stand up for common sense and fight for the little guy. And it is time we fight for our future, and not relics of the past."

"I'm running so that the next generation will not and shall not shy away from their civic duty of public service and to run for elected office. There will be the many faint-hearted who say this is an impossible dream. I'm here to tell you nothing is impossible in America, and nothing is impossible in Virginia."

Some Virginia Republicans were predictably, um, annoyed (we'll say) at Potts, and attempted to strip him of his committee assignments in the state senate. That attempt failed. Other Republicans have been more welcoming, including Virginia's senior US Senator, John Warner. Asked his thoughts on the Potts candidacy in March, Warner said that Potts' run "will strengthen the party and show how we have people of different persuasions within this party."

More recently, Russ Potts has received the support of one of the GOP's leading centrists. In an earlier post, I criticized Christie Whitman for not "walking the walk" and acting on her advice to moderates to become more vocal and active within the GOP. Somehow, she got the message. In a press conference in Virginia on Thursday, Whitman said "Do I think you can run as an independent and still be a Republican? Yes, I think that's possible." Whitman continued, saying "As a party, though, you want to keep your party members together. If people think that's the only way to send a message, that's one way to send the message, and in this country we have history of allowing people to send messages in different ways."

"There is a group that exerts a great deal of power right now in the party. I call them social fundamentalists to distinguish them from true conservatives. A true conservative in the Republican Party would be constantly looking for ways to ensure that government wasn't ever overreaching and coming into your life. There's a group now that can't find enough ways to get the federal government into your life," said Whitman. The AP report says that Potts nodded in agreement.

It's going to be an uphill battle for Russ Potts. He's expected to clear the first hurdle, gathering 10,000 signatures on petitions to claim a spot on the ballot. But he'll still have to overcome a deep fundraising gap. And after that, he'll have to compete with the two national political parties and all their associated special interest groups. But boy, if he can pull this off, it might be the start of something great: a true moderate movement by people who can overcome the zero-sum party politics of today, in support of the pragmatic policies needed to fuel a better tomorrow.


For further reading:
- Russ Potts' campaign website, "Vision for Virginia." It includes a biography, newsroom, contact info for the campaign, photo and video galleries, and a volunteer signup page as well as excerpts from the announcement speech and a link that allows you to contribute online.
- A profile of Adam Piper, who at 21 serves as the Potts campaign's political director. In the interest of full disclosure, I know Adam from my days in the McCain effort back in 2000; Russ Potts made a wise choice in bringing him on board.
- The Virginia Augusta Free Press' "Election 2005" coverage page.
- Political State Report's Virginia section.